Interlocking container for vertical displays

ABSTRACT

A tray container adapted for stacking in vertical display tiers of variable height, with adjacent containers being mechanically interlocked by means of webs inserted into corresponding slots. The container units are suitable for shipping and storage of merchandise packages, and they afford ready access to retained units for price-marking purposes.

United States Patent [1 1 Taub [ Jan. 28, 1975 1 1 INTERLOCKINGCONTAINER FOR VERTICAL DISPLAYS [75] Inventor: Ronald Taub, HighlandPark, 111.

[73] Assignee: Taub Family Trust U/A, Chicago,

[22] Filed: Dec. 29, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 319,903

[52] US. Cl. 211/126, 206/45 [51] Int. Cl. A471 5/10, A471 7/28 [58]Field of Search 211/126, 49 R, 49 S, 71,

211/72, 73, 128,130,132, 148, 149, 177, 221/178; 108/91; 229/DIG. 11, 34R; 206/44 R, 45.24, 45.25, 45.26; 312/108, 312/259; 248/152, 174, 459

156] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,116,304 11/1914 Lundstrom312/108 2,135,093 11/1938 Abrams 248/152 2,735,553 2/1956 Lehman 211/73X 2,832,176 4/1958 Vcrgeer 11 206/4524 UX 2,990,995 7/1961 Wessel l229/D1G. 11

3,139,255 6/1964 Palm 248/152 X 3,164,350 1/1965 Taub 248/174 3,261,1197/1966 King 206/4526 X 3,549,021) 12/1970 Von Bohr 108/91 X FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 241,336 11/1964 Austria 229/D1G. 11 925,9715/1963 Great Britain 229/D1G. 11

Primary ExaminerRoy D. Frazier Assistant ExaminerRobert W. Gibson, Jr.Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kegan, Kegan & Berkman [57] ABSTRACT A traycontainer adapted for stacking in vertical display tiers of variableheight, with adjacent containers being mechanically interlocked by meansof webs inserted into corresponding slots. The container units aresuitable for shipping and storage of merchandise packages, and theyafford ready access to retained units for price-marking purposes.

12 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENIEB JANZB I875 sum 2 or 2INTERLOCKING CONTAINER FOR VERTICAL DISPLAYS The present inventionrelates to vertical containers in which merchandise is sold in specials"at retail stores. Such containers are used both alone and in combinationwith graphic advertising materials.

Although many vertical display containers and assemblies are known inthe prior art, these devices have certain objectionable features whichimpair their practicality. These assemblies generally do not stack orinternest with one another, and are not suitable for shipping andstorage of the articles promoted.

Other display containers in the prior art are manufactured in only asingle size and cannot be adjusted to compensate for differences instore locations. Moreover, many display containers in the prior art areformed in several pieces and require complex assembly instructions. Itis an important feature of this invention that each tray unit is formedfrom a one-piece blank and is easily assembled.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a displaycontainer in tray form in which individual tray units are stackedtogether to form a stable, interlocked display assembly.

It is a related object of the invention to provide a display containerin which articles may also be shipped and stored prior to delivery tothe point of purchase. The tray container of the invention is especiallysuitable for shipping and storage of filled aerosol cans and otherarticles for which an upright position is preferable.

It is another object of the invention to provide a display container ofpleasing appearance which exposes a large proportion of the items to bepromoted to public view, while holding the articles securely in place.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a shipping anddisplay container which facilitates application of price markings byexposing an outer price panel of each article held without physicallyremoving any of the articles from said container.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from a reading of the following specification inconjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a racked assembly of containers of theinvention supported on a display stand;

FIG. 2 is an expanded view of a tier of three intercoupling componentsof containers according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of three tray containers of the invention,showing the manner in which they are arranged for shipment and storageprior to stacking for display;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a three tier assembly of the containers ofthe invention with respective units partially assembled;

FIG[ 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on theline 7-7 of FIG. 2 showing details of the end interlock arrangement ofthe container;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view with parts cut away to show themode of securing an article retention band, in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view, with parts cut away, and indicatingschematically a mode of stacking and securing articles in the containerof the invention;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are fragmentary perspective views of end portions of twocontainers according to the invention and showing the manner ofinterlocking engagement;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a planar blank from which the uppermostcontainer of the invention is produced, the dotted lines indicating foldlines;

FIG. 13 is a plan view similar to that shown in FIG. 12 but illustratinga blank used for the bottom and intermediate containers; and

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the article retaining band used in conjunctionwith the container.

Referring more specifically to FIG. I, there are shown three trays ortray containers 15 of the invention in stacked relation, supported on astand 16 which also holds a display card 17 for graphic advertisingmaterial. The trays 15 may also be stacked on store shelves of the usualtype, or on stands having other sizes and shapes.

The trays are secured to the display stands 16 by anchor tabs 18 cutinto the rear walls 20. Each anchor tab 18 is adapted to engage and tointerlock with corresponding openings (not shown) in the display stand16. When the tray containers 15 are so displayed they form a combinationwhich can be varied in size merely by adding and subtracting containerunits.

In FIGS. 2 and 6 the individual trays 15 are shown in disjoined form.Each tray 15 includes a rear wall 20, opposed end walls 21 and a floor22 attached to the end walls. Flanges 23 are integrally formed with eachend wall 21, and are hinged along a fold line 24 at the outer edge ofeach end wall 21. The flanges 23 are folded inwardly to overlie each ofthe end walls 21. A vertical slot means or slot 25 is therby formedbetween the end walls 21 and their respective flanges 23. Each flange 23is integrally formed with a projecting tab means or tab 26 adapted toengage corresponding openings or slits 27 cut into the rear wall 20. Theflanges 23 are thereby locked into place.

Flaps 28 extend laterally of the floor 22 and are joined thereto alongspaced fold lines 29. The flaps 28 project upwardly from the floor 22for securement within slots 25 between the end walls 21 and theirrespective overlapping flanges 23.

A web means or web 28a, forming an integral extension of each flap 28,intercouples adjacent trays by seating within a corresponding slot 25 ineach next higher tray 15. The method of insertion of the intercouplingweb 28a is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 10 and 11. The number ofdisplay tiers thus intercoupled is limited only by the strength of thematerials used.

Articles are retained in each tray container by means of an elongatedband 30 having ends 31 adapted to engage in slits or openings 27 formedin the rear wall 20. As shown in FIG. 9, this band 30 prevents articles32 from falling forwardly, but permits customers to lift items upwardlyover the band for purchase. End panels 33 are readily accessible tostock clerks for pricemarking purposes.

The position in which the containers 15 are shipped and stored prior todelivery to the point of purchase is shown in FIG. 3. Two or more of thecontainers are arranged within an outer casing or wrapper (not shown) inorder to make a flatter total package. Since such packages are usuallykept flat during shipping and storage, articles such as aerosolcontainers are maintained in an upright attitude.

It will be readily appreciated that numerous variations andmodifications may be constructed without departing from the spirit ofthe instant invention. For example, the webs interconnecting adjacenttrays may be formed as downward extensions of the side walls rather thanas upward extensions of the flaps. Also, the shape and structure of thefloor may be altered to make the retaining band unnecessary. The truescope of the invention is defined by the following claims, which areintended to comprehend all equivalents of the embodiment describedherein.

What is claimed is:

l. A tray-like shipping and display container comprising sheet materialand constructed from a unitary, planar, one-piece blank, said containerbeing open upwardly and forwardly and adapted for stacking in a verticaltier, each container comprising:

a rear wall, a pair of opposed end walls, and a floor, said rear wall,said end walls and said floor all being interconnected along fold linesof said blank,

said rear wall having formed therein a pair of laterally spaced,vertically extending through openings adjacent junctures of said rearwall with said end walls; and

an elongated article-retaining band, opposed ends of said band beingadapted for engagement within said openings to fasten said band to saidrear wall, said band paralleling said floor of said container andextending laterally across and being spaced from said rear wall to holdin place articles contained in said container, and

means for intercoupling said container as a first container in asecured, vertically stacked array of containers, said means comprising amember including at least one of a web means and slot means, said memberbeing adapted to interengage wit a cooperating member of a verticallyadjacent container in said array, to maintain the containers of saidarray in fixed alignment with one another.

2. A tray-like shipping and display container adapted for stacking in avertical tier, said container being open upwardly and forwardly, andcomprising a rear wall, a pair of opposed end walls, and a floor, saidrear wall, said end walls and said floor all being interconnected,

a flange integral with each end wall and hinged thereto along a foldline defining an outer edge of each end wall, said flange extendinginwardly of said outer edge and overlying a respective each one of saidpair of end walls in proximity thereto, whereby said flange and acorresponding end wall define a vertical through slot therebetween;

means securing each said flange in place to parallel generally acorresponding one of said pair of end walls,

a flap integral with said floor and hinged thereto along spaced foldlines at each of opposed lateral limits of said floor, each said flapextending upwardly and projecting into and being secured within acorresponding said slot between an end wall and a corresponding saidflange overlying each end wall thereby to interlock said floor, saidpair of end walls and said rear wall of said container together todefine a stable unitary structure, and

means for intercoupling said container as an element in a secured,vertically stacked array, said means comprising a member including atleast one of a web means and slot means, said member being adapted tointerengage with a cooperating member of a vertically adjacentcontainer. to maintain containers of said array in fixed alignment withone another.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means securingeach said flange in place comprises a slit formed in said rear walladjacent each lateral limit thereof, and further comprising rearwardlyprojecting tab means integrally formed with each said flange at arearwardly directed free edge thereof, each said tab means beingpresented to and being adapted to project into and seat within acorresponding said slit in said rear wall to lock said flange in place.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said rear wall hasformed therein a pair of laterally spaced, vertically extending throughopenings adjacent junctures of said rear wall with said end walls;

and further comprising an elongated article-retaining band, opposed endsof said band being adapted for engagement within said openings to fastensaid band to said rear wall, said band paralleling said floor of saidcontainer and extending laterally across and being spaced from said rearwall to hold in place articles contained in said container.

5. The container of claim 2, wherein said container is adapted forplacement on and for exhibition in connection with an upright displaystand, said container further comprising an anchor tab integrally formedwith said rear wall, said anchor tab being adapted to engage and tointerlock within an opening formed in a vertical wall of said displaystand to maintain said container in fixed alignment therewith.

6. The structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said web meanscomprises a vertically extending web paralleling and adjacent to acorresponding end wall of a first said container, each said webcomprising an extension of a corresponding each said flap and projectingupwardly into a vertically aligned downwardly opening cooperating slotof a second said container of said array, said second containersurmounting and being supported on the first said container, wherebysaid web interlocks the first container with the second container.

7. The structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein said web comprises anintegral component of said container.

8. The structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein said web constitutes anintegral extension of said flap hinged to and projecting upwardly ofsaid floor and normally thereto.

9. A planar blank of corrugated paperboard and the like adapted to forma tray-like, generally rectangular shipping and display containersuitable for stacking in a vertical tier, said blank comprising a singlesheet marked along fold lines to define a rear wall;

opposed end walls joined to said rear wall along spaced fold linesformed in said blank and defining lateral limits of said rear wall;

a pair of flanges integral with said end walls and joined thereto alongfold lines corresponding to outer edges of said end walls;

a pair of slits formed in said rear wall at positions intermediate upperand lower boundaries thereof and adjacent lateral limits thereof;

pair of tab means integrally formed with each one of said pair offlanges and projecting outwardly at laterally directed free endsthereof, said tab means being adapted, upon folding of said flanges tooverlie said end walls, to project into and seat within correspondingsaid slits in said rear wall to lock said flanges in place and to formslots between said end walls and said flanges; and

a pair of flaps hinged to said floor along spaced fold lines definingopposed lateral limits of said floor corresponding to and in line withlateral limits of said rear wall, said flaps being adapted to projectinto corresponding said slots to interlock said floor, said end wallsand said side walls together to form a stable unitary structure, saidflaps being of a length greater than the height of said rear wallwhereby said flaps are adapted to project upwardly of said rear wall andinto corresponding vertically aligned slots of a second, verticallyadjacent tray to provide a stacked tier of interlocked containers.

10. A tray-like shipping and display container comprising sheet materialand constructed from a unitary, planar, one-piece blank, said containerbeing open upwardly and forwardly and adapted for stacking in a verticaltier, each container comprising:

a rear wall, a pair of opposed end walls, and a floor, said rear wall,said end walls and said floor all being interconnected along fold linesof said blank, and means for intercoupling said container as a firstcontainer in a secured, vertically stacked array of containers, saidmeans comprising a member including at least one of a web means and slotmeans, said member being adapted to interengage with a cooperatingmember of a vertically adjacent container in said array, to maintain thecontainers of said array in fixed alignment with one another,

said web means comprising a vertically extending web paralleling andadjacent to a corresponding end wall of said first said container andcontiguous thereto, said web projecting upwardly of said first containerinto a corresponding vertically aligned slot means ofa verticallyadjacent container of said array surmounting and supported on said firstcontainer to interlock the first container with the vertically adjacentcontainer.

11. The container of claim 10, and further comprising a flange integralwith each one of said pair of end walls and hinged thereto along a foldline defining an outer edge of each end wall, each said flange extendinginwardly of said outer edge and overlying a corresponding end wall inproximity thereto, whereby said slot means comprises a vertical throughslot defined by and extending between each said flange and acorresponding end wall;

means securing each said flange in place to parallel generally acorresponding end wall; and

a flap integral with said floor and hinged thereto along spaced foldlines defining opposed lateral limits thereof, each said flap extendingupwardly and projecting into and being secured within a cor respondingsaid slot between an end wall and a respective overlying flange of saidend wall thereby to interlock said floor, said end walls and said rearwall of said container together to define a stable unitary structure.

12. The stucture as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means securingsaid flange in place comprises a slit formed in said rear wall adjacenteach lateral limit thereof, and further comprising rearwardly projectingtab means integrally formed with each said flange at a rearwardlydirected free edge thereof, said tab means being presented to and beingadapted to project into and seat within a corresponding said slit insaid rear wall to lock said flange in place.

1. A tray-like shipping and display container comprising sheet material and constructed from a unitary, planar, one-piece blank, said container being open upwardly and forwardly and adapted for stacking in a vertical tier, each container comprising: a rear wall, a pair of opposed end walls, and a floor, said rear wall, said end walls and said floor all being interconnected along fold lines of said blank, said rear wall having formed therein a pair of laterally spaced, vertically extending through openings adjacent junctures of said rear wall with said end walls; and an elongated article-retaining band, opposed ends of said band being adapted for engagement within said openings to fasten said band to said rear wall, said band paralleling said floor of said container and extending laterally across and being spaced from said rear wall to hold in place articles contained in said container, and means for intercoupling said container as a first container in a secured, vertically stacked array of containers, said means comprising a member including at least one of a web means and slot means, said member being adapted to interengage wit a cooperating member of a vertically adjacent container in said array, to maintain the containers of said array in fixed alignment with one another.
 2. A tray-like shipping and display container adapted for stacking in a vertical tier, said container being open upwardly and forwardly, and comprising a rear wall, a pair of opposed end walls, and a floor, said rear wall, said end walls and said floor all being interconnected, a flange integral with each end wall and hinged thereto along a fold line defining an outer edge of each end wall, said flange extending inwardly of said outer edge and overlying a respective each one of said pair of end walls in proximity thereto, whereby said flange and a corresponding end wall define a vertical through slot therebetween; means securing each said flange in place to parallel generally a corresponding one of said pair of end walls, a flap integral with said floor and hinged thereto along spaced fold lines at each of opposed lateral limits of said floor, each said flap extending upwardly and projecting into and being secured within a corresponding said slot between an end wall and a corresponding said flange overlying each end wall thereby to interlock said floor, said pair of end walls and said rear wall of said container together to define a stable unitary structure, and means for intercoupling said container as an element in a secured, vertically stacked array, said means comprising a member including at least one of a web means and slot means, said member being adapted to interengage with a cooperating member of a vertically adjacent container, to maintain containers of said array in fixed alignment with one another.
 3. The structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means securing each said flange in place comprises a slit formed in said rear wall adjacent each lateral limit thereof, and further comprising rearwardly projecting tab means integrally formed with each said flange at a rearwardly directed free edge thereof, each said tab means being presented to and being adapted to project into and seat within a corresponding said slit in said rear wall to lock said flange in place.
 4. The structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said rear wall has formed therein a pair of laterally spaced, vertically extending through openings adjacent junctures of said rear wall with said end walls; and further comprising an elongated article-retaining band, opposed ends of said band being adapted for engagement within said openings to fasten said band to said rear wall, said band paralleling said floor of said container and extending laterally across and being spaced from said rear wall to hold in place articles contained in said container.
 5. The container of claim 2, wherein said container is adapted for placement on and for exhibition in connection with an upright display stand, said container further comprising an anchor tab integrally formed with said rear wall, said anchor tab being adapted to engage and to interlock within an opening formed in a vertical wall of said display stand to maintain said container in fixed alignment therewith.
 6. The structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said web means comprises a vertically extending web paralleling and adjacent to a corresponding end wall of a first said container, each said web comprising an extension of a corresponding each said flap and projecting upwardly into a vertically aligned downwardly opening cooperating slot of a second said container of said array, said second container surmounting and being supported on the first said container, whereby said web interlocks the first container with the second container.
 7. The structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein said web comprises an integral component of said container.
 8. The structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein said web constitutes an integral extension of said flap hinged to and projecting upwardly of said floor and normally thereto.
 9. A planar blank of corrugated paperboard and the like adapted to form a tray-like, generally rectangular shipping and display container suitable for stacking in a vertical tier, said blank comprising a single sheet marked along fold lines to define a rear wall; opposed end walls joined to said rear wall along spaced fold lines formed in said blank and defining lateral limits of said rear wall; a pair of flanges integral with said end walls and joined thereto along fold lines corresponding to outer edges of said end walls; a pair of slits formed in said rear wall at positions intermediate upper and lower boundaries thereof and adjacent lateral limits thereof; a pair of tab means integrally formed with each one of said pair of flanges and projecting outwardly at laterally directed free ends thereof, said tab means being adapted, upon folding of said flanges to overlie said end walls, to project into and seat within corresponding said slits in said rear wall to lock said flanges in place and to form slots between said end walls and said flanges; and a pair of flaps hinged to said floor along spaced fold lines defining opposed lateral limits of said floor corresponding to and in line with lateral limits of said rear wall, said flaps being adapted to project into corresponding said slots to interlock said floor, said end walls and said side walls together to form a stable unitary structure, said flaps being of a length greater than the height of said rear wall whereby said flaps are adapted to project upwardly of said rear wall and into corresponding vertically aligned slots of a second, vertically adjacent tray to provide a stacked tier of interlocked containers.
 10. A tray-like shipping and display container comprising sheet material and constructed from a unitary, planar, one-piece blank, said container being open upwardly and forwardly and adapted for stacking in a vertical tier, each container comprising: a rear wall, a pair of opposed end walls, and a floor, said rear wall, said end walls and said floor all being interconnected along fold lines of said blank, and means for intercoupling said container as a first container in a secured, vertically stacked array of containers, said means comprising a member including at least one of a web means and slot means, said member Being adapted to interengage with a cooperating member of a vertically adjacent container in said array, to maintain the containers of said array in fixed alignment with one another, said web means comprising a vertically extending web paralleling and adjacent to a corresponding end wall of said first said container and contiguous thereto, said web projecting upwardly of said first container into a corresponding vertically aligned slot means of a vertically adjacent container of said array surmounting and supported on said first container to interlock the first container with the vertically adjacent container.
 11. The container of claim 10, and further comprising a flange integral with each one of said pair of end walls and hinged thereto along a fold line defining an outer edge of each end wall, each said flange extending inwardly of said outer edge and overlying a corresponding end wall in proximity thereto, whereby said slot means comprises a vertical through slot defined by and extending between each said flange and a corresponding end wall; means securing each said flange in place to parallel generally a corresponding end wall; and a flap integral with said floor and hinged thereto along spaced fold lines defining opposed lateral limits thereof, each said flap extending upwardly and projecting into and being secured within a corresponding said slot between an end wall and a respective overlying flange of said end wall thereby to interlock said floor, said end walls and said rear wall of said container together to define a stable unitary structure.
 12. The stucture as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means securing said flange in place comprises a slit formed in said rear wall adjacent each lateral limit thereof, and further comprising rearwardly projecting tab means integrally formed with each said flange at a rearwardly directed free edge thereof, said tab means being presented to and being adapted to project into and seat within a corresponding said slit in said rear wall to lock said flange in place. 